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U.S. Senate votes today on benefits for long-term unemployed

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The U.S. Senate will vote today on a bill that would extend benefits for more than 127,000 long-term unemployed in New York state. In Syracuse, thousands showed up for the Destiny USA job fair on June 14, 2012. More than 50 employers interviewed candidates for roughly 1,600 jobs.
(Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard)

WASHINGTON -- New York's two U.S. senators are among those leading the call today for passage of a bill that would restore unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans who have been jobless for more than 26 weeks.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., say they will vote for the bill that would restore benefits for three months. A vote is likely after 5 p.m.

The long-term unemployed, including more than 127,000 in New York, lost the benefits Dec. 28 when Congress failed to renew an emergency program established in 2008.

The Senate bill, which would cost $6.4 billion, passed a key hurdle Tuesday when six Republicans voted with 54 Democrats and independents to allow the legislation to move forward to a vote today.

Schumer said the aid is essential for the recovering economy. He said each dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.55 in economic activity in Upstate New York.

"For those folks in Upstate New York who have received a pink slip after working in a job for 20 years or more, and are determined to get back into the workforce, unemployment insurance is a helping hand," Schumer said. "It provides them the financial means to continue looking for work without falling immeasurably behind."

Schumer said he urged his Senate colleagues to pass the short-term renewal so that Congress can take some time to negotiate a long-term deal. Republican leaders have insisted that the bill should contain spending cuts equal to the $26 billion annual cost of the emergency unemployment aid.

If Congress fails to act, 383,000 New Yorkers would lose their long-term unemployment benefits over the course of 2014, Schumer said.